MODELO FINAL

Turn left and run on water over to the circular column formation. Get inside and swim to the bottom to find a crate containing an item. Turn right and run along the water to another circular column formation. Do the same thing: get inside and swim to the bottom to find a crate. Turn right and swim to the end of the area to find another crate at the bottom. This one contains a Life of the Gods.

Return to the start location. Swim forward and to the right. Spot the platform between the columns. Stand on it and use Flying Bird to reach the top.

Tip: When you finally reach the top, you’ll spot a shop on the far left side. Before venturing over to the shop, check the right side of this top area. You can drop onto a ledge toward the middle and find the thirteenth crystal skull here.

Cross the roof toward the left side so you’re just over the shop’s right side. Drop into a small hole and find a chest. Jump over to the shop and replenish supplies as needed.

Locate the gap to the shop’s right and leap to the columns. Cross the rooftop to the left and jump over the next set of column tops to the far ledge. Go to the left and open a crate to recover an item. Head the other way, run along the wall over the gap, and defeat a group of snake demons. Search the left side for a crate.

Leap over to the top of the next structure. Defeat the ghostly fish. Jump over to the top of the columns. Get over to the crate on the left side for an item. Continue across to the far building—there’s a save point inside to heal and save.

Go through the narrow tunnel and defeat a couple of water demon groups. Search the dead body on the right side for a Jewel of the Demon Seal. Continue to the locked door. You’ll use the Skull Key.

A big pile of bones. This is probably not a good sign.

Go over the giant skull mound to trigger the scorpion attack. Individually these scorpions aren’t too tough but they’re dangerous in huge numbers—which is exactly what’s happening now. Choose a fast weapon like the Kusari-gama and use hit and run techniques to defeat them. Don’t get surrounded or stick close to the scorpions for long. Clear out all the scorpions to trigger a boss fight.

Boss Battle: Skeleton Monster

Quickly dodge to get to the skeleton monster’s feet and perform combination attacks. Continue to strike the leg until the monster falls down. Now attack the creature’s chest! The thing in the monster’s chest looks like a vulnerable point. As the monster gets back up, quickly dodge away to avoid a likely grab attack. The skeleton monster also likes to chow down on bones. Dodge the creature’s attacks until it goes to eat then quickly dodge to the feet and start the attack. Once it’s knocked down, go for the chest. It also seems as if the talons inflict heavy damage against the monster. If you’re having trouble against the skeleton monster, switch weapons to the talons and give them a shot.

Defeat the beast, which opens the new route out of the chamber. Perform the Flying Bird technique to get up. Follow the ledge at the top and wall run across the gap. Defeat some snake demons and search the crate for an item. Continue along the ledge and wall run over the gap. Defeat more snake demons.

Enter the narrow tunnel and eliminate a lot of scorpions. Use hit and run techniques (can even use plain ole Shuriken, though it takes awhile). Engage snake demons at the end and search a crate on the left for an item. Continue up and find more scorpions. When you reach the gap, jump to the doorway ahead. Battle more

Cross using a wall run on the right wall. More scorpions crowd the tunnel. Continue to clear them and reach the end. You come to a dead end. You must use Flying Bird to reach the top. Leap onto the wall and ascend to the top. Save your game up ahead.

Tip: Before leaving the top of this castle tower, find the guillotine on the right side of your entrance. It looks harmless enough. Strike the guillotine with one of your melee weapons. The blade drops and reveals the fourteenth crystal skull.

Head up the staircase and find a shop on the left side. Climb the ladder on the nearby tower and open a crate at the top to recover an item. Return to the staircase, which triggers a cut scene. Defeat a couple werewolves down the steps then go through the open door next to the save point.

Proceed down the stairs and face off against a couple more werewolves. Get to the bottom. Open the next doorway and battle a larger group of werewolves. In the next room, go up the stairs on the right side. Battle a squad of snake demons. As you continue up the stairs, recover more arrows from the corpse near the cannons. Shoot the flying demons that attack. Replenish your arrow supply.

Search the right side of the main staircase to find a Test of Valor. You’ll need the Rod of Trials in order to purify that site!

Approach this castle entrance. Go up the stairs toward the main entrance and battle snake demons. Continue around the far right side to find a save point; a group of werewolves guard the area. Look on this right side at the bottom of the stairs to find another Test of Valor. In the opposite corner of the save point (other side of the entrance) there’s a chest.

Tip: This fourth Test of Valor features a battle against snake demons and bats. The bats are basically harmless. Just use quick weapon attacks to defeat them whenever they surround your position. The snake demons are more

powerful. An upgraded Lunar Staff is a good weapon here and the Art of the Wind Blades ninpo makes quick work when you’re surrounded. It’s worthwhile to complete this site because the reward is a Lives of the Thousand Gods. Climb the ladder next to the save point. Grab arrows from the dead body. In the back corner, use Flying Bird to get higher. Ready the bow at the top and defeat the flying demons. You can drop down to the previous floor where the arrows are and battle there so you aren’t exposed to every flying demon at once.

Leap up to the rooftop on the right and battle a couple groups of werewolves. Keep moving until you trigger a brief cut scene. Move along the ledge to the flagpoles. Jump to the middle pole and shimmy out to its middle. Face the circular window. Swing and jump twice to break into the window. Defeat the demons inside. Search the chest at the back for the Bronze Key.

Tip: You can avoid the bulk of the fights between the save point and the swing jump through the window. From the save point, just run! Get all the way to the ledge and leap onto the flagpole. Shimmy across and swing through the window and drop into the next area.

Exit via the room’s opposite door and defeat some werewolves. Check the corpse outside for Inukoma’s notebook. Open the door ahead with the key and drop into the storage room. Crush the werewolves inside. Exit to the left. Bust the barrels in the back left corner to reveal a chest containing a Life of the Gods. Go through the door and turn right to find a save point.

Open the next door and prepare for battle—a large group of werewolves approach from the far staircase. Save your game again after the battle. Go up the main staircase and search the left end for a chest containing an item. Back on the first floor, go through the door closest to the entrance. Kill the werewolves in the dining room. Exit via the door on the back right corner and battle another werewolf group. Cross the sitting room to the next door; open it and engage a group of demons. It may be wiser to lure them back into the dining hall to split the group up.

In the room lined with statues, find the glowing object on the right side and interact. Snag the Cast Iron Key. Exit through the door. Ascend the main staircase and go right. Use the Cast Iron Key on the door. Ascend the stairs and save your game. Battle ninjas up the stairs and in the next library room—once inside, go to the far left corner and attack the bookcases on the left side to reveal the fifteenth crystal skull.

Search the dead body in the room and recover The Four Greater Fiends, Part 3. Walk into the fireplace and use Flying Bird to reach the top. Engage the demons here and ninjas in the next room. Find the fireplace in the back left corner and use Flying Bird to get up. Save your game.

Make a trip across these flagpoles to find several chests and a Muramusa shop.

Swing across the flagpoles to the balcony ahead. Continue across and left. Drop down below the flagpoles and climb the ladder. Open the chests to the right of the shop; gain items or get attacked by ghost fish. Use the shop. Return across the flagpoles and go to the staircase on the right. Go to the door and try to open it—it’s locked. Battle the werewolves that appear behind you. Defeat them all then interact with the glowing object left behind to gain the Golden Key. Use it to open the door and trigger a cut scene.

Werewolves surround you. Defeat them. Interact with the throne to open a passage. Drop inside and crush the snake demons that approach. Search the chest on the left for an item. Move down the tunnel and find the save point on the right.

Exit the door at the end of the tunnel. Move toward the right side to trigger demons. Lure them back into the tunnel so you can save after the battle. Resume course right and down steps and face more snake demons. Gather arrows at the dead body and reach the bridge. You’re trapped with flying demons overhead. Jump and shoot arrows; keep moving to avoid fireballs. Get more arrows from the corpse. Open the far door into the arena.

Boss Battle: Volf

If Volf charges immediately, quickly dash to the right and avoid the blow. Volf wields a gigantic scythe—looks like a great weapon, wouldn’t it be great if you could get it? You’ll have to defeat Volf first. After the initial dodge, the remainder of the battle plays out in similar fashion. Dodge Volf’s charges and follow with strong attack

combinations.

If you are using the dragon sword and have it maximized, use Divine Flying Swallow to remain elusive but still connect with attacks. You may spot Volf get stunned and drop to the ground; that’s an invitation to follow up with more combinations with your preferred weapon. Otherwise, dodge before Volf counters.

watching the carnage from the stands decide to avenge Volf—they charge from the stands and attack. If you’re going for one of the weapon achievements (beat the game using only one weapon type) then switch back to that weapon before you kill a werewolf!

The remainder of this battle is against a gang of werewolves; you’ve fought them before but now in heavier numbers. Don’t hesitate to utilize ninpo to help clear the horde. Pound the werewolves with the scythe or switch to one of the weapons you have upgraded to maximum.